One of England’s most productive counties. The Lincolnshire Wolds chalk, limestone heath, Fens and multiple Roman roads combine to create exceptional detecting conditions across the whole county.
FROM THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME
Selected archaeological finds from the PAS records for Lincolnshire.
ROMANA Roman copper-alloy nummus with a VICTORIA AVGGG reverse showing Victory walking left holding a wreath.
Explore this findPhoto: Lincolnshire County Council · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
POST MEDIEVALAn incomplete post-medieval copper-alloy Nuremberg jetton of Hans Krauwinckel II (active 1586-1635). Rose/orb type. Possibly GOTES REICH BLEIBT EWICK – God’s Kingdom endures forever…
Explore this findPhoto: Lincolnshire County Council · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
Lincolnshire has a coastline, and beach detecting follows different rules to farmland. Most foreshore between the high and low water marks in England is Crown Estate land, and the Crown Estate operates a general permission for recreational detecting on much of its managed foreshore, though you should check the current terms. Council-owned beaches often need the local authority’s permission, and some beaches are privately owned or leased. Always check for scheduled monuments, SSSIs and local byelaws before detecting, and never detect where it is signposted as prohibited.
Lincolnshire Wolds chalk gives excellent preservation. Lincoln Edge Jurassic limestone is superb. Fenland silt and peat in the south and east. River Witham and Trent terraces.
Wolds chalk arable fields, Lincoln Edge limestone farmland, Fenland silt arable, fields along Ermine Street, King Street and Fosse Way
Roman coins and military material near Lincoln (Lindum Colonia), Viking-age silver (Danelaw heartland), Iron Age Corieltauvi coins, Bronze Age Fenland metalwork, medieval material
The Watlington Hoard-equivalent finds in this county are numerous. Lincoln’s hinterland produces Roman material of the highest quality. Viking Danelaw silver consistently surfaces across the county.
The sheer variety of geology means you can switch between chalk Wolds, limestone heath and Fenland within a short drive. Research the Roman roads carefully – every crossing point is worth investigating.
You can detect on private land in Lincolnshire with the landowner’s permission, and on much of the Crown Estate foreshore if you are on the coast. You must avoid scheduled monuments, SSSIs and other protected sites. Joining a local club is the easiest way to reach permissioned land.
Yes. Metal detecting is legal in Lincolnshire on land where you have the landowner’s permission, as long as you avoid protected sites and follow the law on reporting treasure and recording finds.
Lincolnshire is covered by a Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer who records finds made by the public. See the FLO section on this page for contact details, or search finds.org.uk.
PAS lists 86,152 database records representing 105,130 recorded objects for Lincolnshire, checked 30 October 2026. These are recorded entries rather than a count of every find made. The period and object-type categories shown in the PAS section are selected, incomplete lists.
North East Lincolnshire Council requires daily consent for designated areas of Cleethorpes Beach and does not allow detecting in its parks and open spaces. Elsewhere, check with the responsible council or landowner.
PAS data from finds.org.uk. Last checked 30 October 2026.
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